Vacuum breaker for flush valve devices



Feb. 16, 1937. Y w.,c. SHANLEY I 2,071,004

VACUUM BREAKER FOR FLUSH VALVE DEVICES) I I Fiied March 25, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet]. v

Feb. 16, 1937. w c, SHANLEY 2,071,004

VACUUM BREAKER FOR FLUSH VALVE DEVICES Filed March 23, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VACUUM BREAKER FOR FLUSH VALVE DEVICES 12 Claims.

This invention has for its object to provide a new and improved device of this description to be used in connection with flush valves and water closet bowls, bidets, bed pan washers, slop sinks, or other fixtures where flush valves are employed. It can also be used on ball cocks commonly used in closet tanks and house supply tanks, and in sterilizing tanks and other receptacles where the end of the supply pipe to the receptacle is just above the water line or submerged in the water.

A further object of the invention is to so design the device that it Will act as a silencer, due to the provisions made for the discharge'of a curtain of water that is delivered on the outside of the main water column, and the device also tends to eliminate what is known as the line noise in the house supply system.

A further object of the invention is to prevent contamination due to the siphoning of the water from the closet bowl or other receptacles, which may be created by a' vacuum in the water supply system of the building unless provision is made for the breaking of the vacuum at a point which will prevent such water contamination.

A further object of the invention is to provide for a complete and efllcient discharge of water through the discharge pipe.

The above and other objects not specifically mentioned will be clear from the specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a closet bowl and associated mechanism embodying the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a large cross sectional plan view through the vacuum breaker, taken on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional elevations showing modified or alternate forms of the device;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation through the main water conduit of the vacuum breaker, showing a still further modification; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view, taken on line '!'I of Fig. 6.

The vacuum breaker I 0 of the present invention is shown in connection with a closet bowl I I, a flush valve I2, and a flush connection I3. The flush valve I2 is of any standard construction and need not be described in detail. The vacuum breaker in the installation shown is located medially below the flush valve and intermediate the valve and the flush connection I3 leading to the bowl.

The vacuum breaker, in the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3, comprises a main center tubular conduit I4, which. at its upper end terminates in a head I5 provided with threads I6 and having a marginal flange H at its upper end. The conduit is provided with a bore I8 for' the passage of water, which at its upper end!!! is flared to afford a throat which merges into a chamber 20 in the head portion of the conduit, the size of the chamber being restricted by a ring 2| which fits upon a shoulder 22 at the upper end of the throat l9 andfurnishes an annular overhang around the margin of the throat. The flange II coacts with a coupling nut 23, threaded to the base of the flush valve or other fitting with which the vacuum breaker is associated.

The threads I6 on the head I5 serve to mount a skirt 24 of inverted cup shape formation, the wall 25 of which overhangs and embraces the upper end of a cup-shaped outer shell 26 which is reduced at its lower end 21 and terminates in a threaded neck 28 which receives a coupling nut 29 which connects the vacuum breaker as a whole tothe flush pipe I3. The lower end 3|] of the conduit is exteriorly threaded and the terminus oi the conduit is beveled on its exterior '3I. The conduit terminates at a medial point within the center of the outer shell 26, and the lower end 30 of the conduit is threaded through an inner shell 32 which is of cup shape formation and provided with an ofiset enlargement 33 at its upper end, the periphery of which is threaded into the interior of the outer shell 26, which shell is provided with interior threads 34 for that purpose.

The upper enlarged end of the inner shell is located slightly above the lower terminus of the conduit I8, and the lower end .35 of the inner shell is reduced and terminates in an interiorly threaded neck 36 which receives the upper threaded end of a flaring lower nipple 31 having a head 38 provided with a center bore 39 and provided around its upper margin with an upstanding flange'40 which furnishes an annular shelf upon the upper surface of the nipple, and the nipple is provided with a flange 4| which abuts against the lower end of the neck 36. This arrangement brings the bore 39 into direct alignment with the bore of the conduit I8 but at a point considerably below the terminus of the conduit.

The inner shell 32 near its upper end is provided with spokes 42 each having a longitudinal bore 43, and the spokes radiate from a ringshaped threaded boss or hub 44, the upper portion of which is threaded upon the lower threaded end of the conduit I8. The lower threaded portion of the hub shaped boss receives an upper nipple 45 having a center bore 46 which is flared at its upper end 41 and stands below and in spaced relation to the beveled terminus of the conduit I8, thus furnishing a circularchannel in communication with the radial bores 43 through the spokes 42 which at their outer ends establish connection with an annular space 48 in the nature of an equalizing chamber between the inner and outer shells for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The upper nipple constitutes in effect a continuation of the conduit and may be formed integrally therewith, as hereinafter described.

The modification shown in Fig. 4 is similar in all substantial respects to that previously described with the exception that the conduit l8 is provided with a bore of less diameter than the conduit l4, and the upper nipple 45 is provided with a correspondingly smaller bore which extends through an extension 45' of reduced wall thickness affording an overhanging shoulder 45 through which emerge the lower ends of a group or series of vertical ports 45 leading downwardly from the space between the nipple and the lower end of the conduit. In other respects the construction shown is substantially identical with that first described.

The modification shown in Fig. 5 is substantially similar to that first described, With the following exceptions: The conduit l8 is provided at its lower end with an extension l8 of reduced wall thickness which is provided with a series of obliquely extending ports 18 The extension is entered into the upper end of an upper nipple 45, the relationship being such as to afford an annular space 4i": intermediate the extension IB and the Wall of the nipple. In the formation shown in Fig. 5, the flush connection I3 is provided at its upper end with a flange l3 which engages with the coupling ring 29, furnishing a clamped joint instead of a slip joint of the character first described.

Figs. 6 and 7 show another modification of the conduit formation. In this case the conduit l8 is provided near its lower end with an exterior groove or channel l8 which is provided with radial ports |8 and below the channel the wall of the conduits is provided with vertical ports IB In this construction the conduit and the upper nipple are united into an integral fitting instead of being separately formed, as previously described, but in other respects the construction is substantially the same.

Operation The operation of the various modifications is substantially the same, and I shall first refer to the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The water admitted under pressure by the opening of the flush valve l2 passes downwardly in the form of a swiftly moving column through the conduit and out of the upper nipple and through the space within the inner shell 32 which may for convenience be referred to as the vacuum breaking chamber. The jet of water passing through this space passes on down through the flaring lower nipple 3'! and into the flush pipe and to the bowl II. The violence of the discharge into the bowl has a tendency to build up a back pressure, and if this occurs the water will tend to rise through the flush pipe and into the annular equalizing chamber 48 between the outer and inner shells. The water rising to the top of this chamber will be sucked inwardly through the bored spokes 42 and discharged as a curtain of water surrounding the main jet passing downwardly through the center. This will have the effect of preventing overflow of water under back pressure conditions.

In the event a vacuum is established in the system, due to the flushing of the bowl at a lower level or for other causes, such vacuum will, unless broken, tend to siphon the water upwardly from the closet bowl and into the water system.

With the vacuum breaker of the present invention, however, a vacuum in the piping will suck in air from the room, which passes upwardly inside of the skirt 25 and downwardly inside of the outer shell and around the spokes 42 and thence upwardly through the lower nipple 45 and into the conduit, thus breaking the vacuum in the vacuum breaking chamber within the inner shell. The arrangement is one which guards against the establishment of a continuous vacuum down to the closet bowl and at the same time prevents the rising water from escaping in the form of jets or leaks into the room The pressure equalizing cham er 4:? also acts as an expansion chamber under vacuum, and the vacuum is partly relieved through the communication established through the bored spokes and the equalizing chamber and through the space below the chamber and below the lower nipple through which communication is established with the vacuum breaking chamber within the inner shell.

Experience has shown that the vacuum chamber, as shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, is well designed to be used on all types of water closet bowls except the blowout type, and that it will take care of twice as much back pressure as any other vacuum breaker having the same area of supply that is on the market at the present time. 7

Fig. 4 is to be used on all types of closet bowls having a higl rback pressure, commonly known as the blowout type, and this type of closet howl requires less volume of water but a higher pressure; in other words, the bowl is operated by pressure instead of volume of water.

The operation of Fig. 4 is similar to that already described, with the exception of the fact that the water curtain is established through the vertical ports 45 in the lower nipple which surround the descending water column but are sep arated therefrom by the inner Wall of the nipple. The modifications shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 operate in a similar manner, which will be readily understood from the previous description.

The provision of means for maintaining a water curtain around the main jet serves to a very large extent to silence the operation of the vacuum breaker, since a curtain of water is drawn into the main column instead of air, so that the hissing effect which otherwise might be occasioned by the sucking in of the air is practically eliminated, while the provision of the flange 40 around the lower nipple affords a water cushion which further reduces noise.

The provision of the equalizing chamber serves to control the back pressure, which is of great importance where water pressure is low on the top floor of buildings and in cities having a low water pressure in the city mains. It has been found that three-eighths of an inch is the largest area of the water discharging column that can be used on a system employing a vacuum breaker without a pressure equalizing chamber to take care of the back pressure up to thirty-five pounds, without leaking on the floor, but the employment of a pressure equalizing chamber enables much larger areas of water discharge to be employed without leakage or other difficulty.

The invention in any of the forms shown is one which operates without the employment of moving parts, which is of material advantage in that it avoids mal-adjustment or difficulty due to wear or the improper functioning of the operating elements.

The present device is of rugged construction and easy to assemble, and the method of assembly permits variations in adjustment and in spacing and also permits easy removal and disassembling of the parts as occasion may requira Although the invention has been described with considerable particularity, and although various modifications in structure have been shown, it is not the intention to limit the formation of the various operating parts tothe form or arrangement indicated in the drawings since various other modifications in detail may be introduced without material variation from the principles of the invention as above described.

I claim:

1. In a vacuum breaker of the class described,

the combination of a main conduit for the downward discharge of water, an outer shell surrounding the lower end of the conduit and open to afford communication between the conduit and the atmosphere for the admission of air to break a vacuum, an inner'shell in spaced relation to the first mentioned shell and affording an annular equalizing chamber in conjunction therewith, and spokes extending inwardly from the inner shell and bored to afford communication between the equalizing chamber and the interior of the conduit to permit discharge of uprising water through the equalizing chamber and through the spokes and into the column of water downflowing through the conduit, the spokes affording spaces between them for the admission of air through the interior of the inner shell and into the lower end of the conduit.

2. In a vacuum breaker of the class described, the combination of a main conduit for the down ward discharge of water, an outer shell surrounding the lower end of the conduit and open to afford communication'between the conduit and the atmosphere for the admission of air to break a vacuum, an inner shell in spaced relation to the first mentioned shell and furnishing an annular equalizing chamber in conjunction therewith, means afiording communication between the equalizing chamber and the interior of the conduit for discharging uprising water back into the column of water downflowing through the conduit, a lower nipple connected with and depending from the inner shell in alignment with and spaced below the lower end of the conduit, and a flush connection surrounding the nipple and secured to the lower end of the outer shell.

3. In a vacuum breaker of the class described, the combination of a main conduit for the downward discharge of water, an outer shell surrounding the lower end of the conduit and open to afiord communication between the conduit and the atmosphere for the admission of air to break a vacuum, an inner shell in spaced relation to the first mentioned shell and affording an annular equalizing chamber in conjunction therewith, spokes extending inwardly from the inner shell and bored to aiTord communication between the equalizing chamber and the interior of the conduit to permit discharge of uprising water through the equalizing chamber and through the spokes and into the column of water downfiowing through the conduit, the spokes afiording spaces between them for the admission of air through the interior of the inner shell and into the lower end of the conduit, a lower nipple connected with and depending from the inner shell in alignment with and spaced below the lower end of the conduit, and a flush connection surrounding the nipple and secured to the lower end of the outer shell.

4. In a vacuum breaker of the class described, the combination of a main conduit for the downward discharge of water, an outer shell surrounding the. lower end of the conduit and open to afford communication between the conduit and the atmosphere for the admission of air to break a vacuum, an inner shell in spaced relation to the first mentioned shell and furnishing an annular equalizing chamber in conjunction therewith, means affording communication between the equalizing chamber and the interior of the conduit for discharging uprising water back into the column of water downflowing through the conduit, a lower bored nipple comprising a head secur-ed to the inner shell and a flaring skirt shaped body, the nipple being located below and in spaced relation to the discharge end of the conduit, and a flush connection surrounding the body of the nipple and spaced therefrom and connected with the lower end of the outer shell.

5. In a vacuum breaker of the class described, the combination of a main conduit for the downward discharge of water, an outer shell surrounding the lower end of the conduit and open to afford communication between the conduit and the atmosphere for the admission of air to break a vacuum, an inner shell in spaced relation to the first mentioned shell and affording an annular equalizing chamber in conjunction therewith, spokes extending inwardly from the inner shell and bored to afford communication between the equalizing chamber and the interior of the conduit to permit discharge of uprising water through the equalizing chamber and through the spokes and into the column of water downfiowing through the conduit, the spokes affording spaces between them for the admission of air through the interior of the inner shell and into the lower end of the conduit, a lower bored nipple. comprising a head secured to the inner shell and a flaring skirt shaped body, the nipple being located below and in spaced relation to the discharge end of the conduit, and a flush connection surrounding the body of the nipple and spaced therefrom and connected with the lower end of the outer shell.

6. In a vacuum breaker of the class described, the combination of a main conduit for the. downward discharge of water, an outer shell surrounding the lower end of the conduit and open to afford communication between the conduit and the atmosphere for the admission of air to break a vacuum, an inner shell in spaced relation to the first mentioned shell and affording an annular equalizing chamber in conjunction therewith, spokes extending inwardly from the inner shell and bored to afford communication between the equalizing chamber and the interior of the conduit to permit discharge of uprising water through the equalizing chamber and through the spokes and into the column of water downflowing through the conduit, the spokes affording spaces between them for the admission of air through the interior of the inner shell and into the lower end of the conduit, and a skirt of inverted cup shaped formation secured to the conduit and surrounding the outer shell and in spaced relation thereto to permit the inflow of air below the skirt and upwardly between the skirt and the outer shell.

'7. In a vacuum breaker of the class described, the combination of a main conduit exteriorly threaded at its lower end, an outer shell open to the atmosphere at its upper end and surrounding the lower end of the conduit and in spaced relation thereto and provided with interior threads,

an inner shell provided with an enlargement at its upper end having peripheral threads engaging with the threads on the outer shell, the inner shell depending below the discharge end of the conduit and in spaced relation to the outer shell to afford an equalizing chamber between the shells and a vacuum breaking chamber within the inner shell, and the inner shell having a plurality of bored spokes connecting with a threaded hub engaging the threads on the conduit and the bores through the spokes com-' municating with the interior of the conduitlfor the return of upfiowing water to the column discharging through the conduit and the spaces between the spokes affording communication for air to the vacuum breaking chamber within the inner shell.

8. In a vacuum breaker of the class described, the combination of a main conduit exteriorly threaded at its lower end, an outer shell open to the atmosphere at its upper end and surrounding the lower end of the conduit and in spaced relation thereto and provided with interior threads, an inner shell provided with an enlargement at its upper end having peripheral threads engaging with the threads on the outer shell, the inner shell depending below the discharge end of the conduit and in spaced relation to the outer shell to afford an equalizing chamber be tween the shells and a vacuum breaking chamber within the inner shell, and the inner shell having a plurality of bored spokes connecting with a threaded hub engaging the threads on the conduit and the bores through the spokes communicating with the interior of the conduit for the return of upflowing water to the column discharging through the conduit and the spaces between the spokes affording communication for air to the vacuum breaking chamber within the inner shell, and a lower nipple connected with the inner shell and in spaced relation to the discharge end of the conduit and provided with a bore aligned with the conduit, and a marginal flange upstanding from the upper end of the nipple to afford a ledge for the momentary retention of water around the bore in the nipple.

9, In a vacuum breaker of the class described, the combination of a main conduit exteriorly threaded at its lower end, an outer shell open to the atmosphere at its upper end and surrounding the lower end of the conduit and in spaced relation thereto and provided with interior threads, an inner shell provided with an enlargernent at its upper end having peripheral threads engaging with the threads on the outer shell, the inner shell depending below the discharge end of the conduit and in spaced relation to the outer shell to afford an equalizing chamber between the shells and a vacuum breaking chamber within the inner shell, and the inner shell having a plurality of bored spokes connecting with a threaded hub engaging the threads on the conduit and the bores through the spokes communicating with the interior of the conduit for the return of upflowing water to the column discharging through the conduit and the spaces between the spokes afiording communication for air to the vacuum breaking chamber within the inner shell, and an outer skirt of inverted cup shaped formation secured to the upper end of the conduit and overhanging the outer shell and in spaced relation thereto to provide for the inflow of air below the skirt and up and into the outer shell.

10. In a vacuum breaker of the class described, the combination of a main conduit exteriorly threaded at its lower end, an outer shell open to the atmosphere at its upper end and surrounding the lower end of the conduit and in spaced relation thereto and provided with interior threads, an inner shell provided with an enlargement at its upper end having peripheral threads engaging with the threads on the outer shell, the inner shell depending below the discharge end of the conduit and in spaced relation to the outer shell to afiord an equalizing chamber between the shells and a vacuum breaking chamber within the inner shell, and the inner shell having a plurality of bored spokes connecting with a threaded hub engaging the threads on the conduit and the bores through the spokes communicating with the interior of the conduit for the return or" upflowing water to the column discharging through the conduit and the spaces between the spokes affording communication for air to the vacuum breaking chamber within the inner shell, and a lower nipple connected with the inner shell and in spaced relation to the discharge end of the conduit and provided with a bore aligned with the conduit, and a marginal flange upstanding from the upper end of the nipple to afford a ledge for the momentary retention of water around the bore in the nipple, and an outer skirt of inverted cup shaped formation secured to the upper end of the conduit and overhanging the outer shell and in spaced relation thereto to provide for the inflow of air below the skirt and up and into the outer shell.

11. In a vacuum breaker of the class described, the combination of a main central conduit for the downward discharge of a column of water, concentric inner and outer shells surrounding the conduit, the inner shell furnishing an inner chamber opening at its upper end to the atmosphere and opening at a lower point to the interior of the central conduit, the inner and outer shells being connected to afford an annular equalizing chamber between the shells closed against the atmosphere at its upper end, and a duct leading from the equalizing chamber into the interior of the main conduit and adapted to divert water arising from the equalizing chamber back into the column of water within the main conduit.

12. In a vacuum breaker of the class described, the combination or" a main central conduit for the downward discharge or a column of water, inner and outer shells located in spaced relation one within the other and both surrounding the main conduit, the inner shell furnishing an inner chamber open at its upper end to the atmosphere and open at a lower point to the interior of the main conduit, the inner and outer shells being connected to afford an equalizing chamber between the shells closed against the atmosphere at its upper end, and a plurality of radial spokes connecting the inner shell with the main conduit and bored to afford ducts leading from the equalizing chamber into the interior of the main conduit and adapted to divert water uprising through the equalizing chamber back into the column of Water within the main conduit.

WILLIAM C. SHANLEY. 

